The player ultimately chose the former.
It clearly wasn’t a good time to harvest her master right now; she had only just escaped danger, so continuing to keep a low profile was the best course.
The Jade Ecstasy Seal used for harvesting cultivators required physical contact to form, and the bonding process took some time.
Though she could leave a mark on her master through daily interactions, she had no excuse to conceal it.
With no suitable candidates for now and her cheat props used up, Li Yin let the thought go. What would come would come naturally when the bridge was crossed.
There were plenty of male cultivators under the heavens; she’d surely encounter suitable targets and opportunities. No need to rush.
Even if this world was real, she would evidently continue viewing people and events with a player’s mindset.
Such thinking was no different from that of a Jade Ecstasy Palace disciple—in fact, it aligned perfectly.
Even the Jade Ecstasy Palace Lord would give a thumbs-up and praise her as a worthy direct disciple.
Li Yin settled her mindset. The next morning, she headed to her master’s meditation chamber for lessons and, en route, told Senior Sister Xia about formally becoming his disciple.
Xia Erruo was astonished and confirmed again: “Elder Yaoguang?”
She had entered the sect early and was well aware of the elders’ temperaments.
Elder Yaoguang was over a hundred years old, relatively young among the elders. Though mild-mannered, he never grew overly close to anyone, showed no excessive favoritism toward any disciple, and this was his first time taking one.
Li Yin was puzzled: “Is there something wrong with Elder Yaoguang?”
Xia Erruo patted her shoulder: “No issue at all. This is Elder Yaoguang’s first disciple. You’re truly fated with our sect—you should be our little junior sister.”
Her smile was brilliant, her enunciation emphatic.
The one with issues wasn’t Elder Yaoguang, but Ji Little Dao Lord.
She had heard about him chatting up the little junior sister. Ji Little Dao Lord usually couldn’t be bothered to talk to ordinary disciples like them.
That Ji fellow definitely had impure intentions.
Li Yin didn’t understand her smile and was unaware of the cultivation world’s subtle custom of poaching talent.
From her perspective, that Ji Little Dao Lord had merely been probing her with suspicions, nothing more.
She heard Xia Erruo continue: “Little junior sister, you can know a person’s face but not their heart. Though the cultivation world is full of fellow Daoists, your fellow sect members are the most trustworthy. If disciples from other sects ever invite you out to tour someday, you must be extra cautious—don’t let yourself be deceived.”
Li Yin nodded as if she understood, though she felt her senior sister was implying something specific.
After chatting with Senior Sister Xia, she arrived at her master’s meditation chamber. The beautiful master had already prepared tea and snacks, waiting for her.
Not only were there snacks to relieve her boredom and tea to moisten her throat; her new master was excessively thoughtful, even preparing treats for her two spirit pets.
This was too embarrassing.
But she couldn’t refuse her master’s intentions. Li Yin said, “Thank you, Master.”
Yao Guanheng smiled faintly: “Sit. Keeping spirit beasts cooped up in a box all day can give small animals heartache too.”
Li Yin thus released her spirit beast cubs, letting them explore the items on the table.
The rat pup burrowed into a toy’s crevice. She poked its fluffy little butt with a finger.
Suddenly, she looked up and asked: “Master, aren’t you letting your spirit beast out?”
The girl’s posture was casual, utterly unrestrained.
After releasing the two small animals, she instinctively leaned forward, slightly draping over the table’s edge, seemingly inspecting the table’s ornaments and toys from the little creatures’ viewpoint.
The next second, her pupils lifted and met the man’s gaze.
Yao Guanheng paused slightly, his gentle smile unchanging: “I didn’t bring my spirit beast; I usually let it roam freely in the sect.”
Li Yin then asked what her master’s spirit beast looked like. Yao Guanheng replied it was an Azure Luan, and her eyes immediately brightened.
“That must be beautiful,” she said, sitting up with anticipation.
“There’s about an hour left. Once we arrive at the sect, you’ll see it.”
Li Yin nodded vigorously.
Only after a while did she realize that this meant the one-on-one lesson lasted an hour—two hours in a transmigrator’s terms.
An unbearable length for lessons; as Li Yin listened to her master’s explanations and guidance, her head gradually began to ache.
“…Newly initiated disciples often confuse spirit beasts with demon beasts, but the two are actually different… Spirit beasts cultivate spiritual energy, demon beasts cultivate demonic energy. Though both have gained sentience, ‘much cunning leads to demonhood’…”
Yao Guanheng’s lecture was actually quite engaging. He seemed proficient in water affinity; tea rose from the cup, hovering above his palm.
His clear, melodic voice flowed with the narration as the fluid water transformed into flying birds, then walking beasts—spirit beasts, then demon beasts.
Amid the myriad forms, his slender, luminous fingers gently extended, teased, and flipped, full of visual appeal.
Li Yin watched, her gaze unconsciously shifting upward to his face.
The beauty’s eyes were slightly downcast, his lashes dense. He seemed unaware of her stare, his lips parting:
“The medicinal properties of the pills for raising them often differ as well. Spirit beasts are docile by nature and need nurturing of their intellect, usually fed pills like Clarity Pills… Demon beasts require soothing of their ferocity, often given Tranquility Pills…”
This ocean of knowledge nearly drowned Li Yin. What ill intentions could one have when already on the verge of drowning?
She simply propped her cheek, brain blank as she admired the beauty, seeking a breath of respite from his looks.
Her gaze was more like an accusation.
Master, stop lecturing.
“In addition, different spirit attributes have distinctions in feeding. For instance, fire- or metal-attribute spirit beasts like swallowing fire seeds, while water, wood, and earth types prefer spirit dew…”
Master continued lecturing.
Accusation ineffective; Li Yin’s eyes instantly glazed over.
At that moment, the little animals caused a stir, drawing her gaze back as she watched the cat and rat play.
Silver Gray dashed around with a small fish snack in its mouth; the kitten feigned a pounce. The rat pup loosened its jaws, and the fish snack dropped beside Li Yin’s hand.
Her fingers twitched, snatching the small fish snack and stealthily hiding it under the table.
These snacks were finger-length, salty and fragrant—commonly used by Myriad Beasts Sect disciples to reward small animals.
A faint rustling sounded, like the snack being torn open.
Soon, amid the tea’s aroma wafted a very faint salty fragrance, accompanied by tiny chewing noises.
When one doesn’t want to attend class, one will do anything.
Like taste-testing pet treats.
The man’s pleasant voice suddenly halted. He raised his eyes to his little disciple’s slightly moving cheeks.
The fish snack was rather tough; she chewed with some effort.
Suspecting discovery, Li Yin’s sneaky motions froze as she met her master’s ink-black eyes, brimming with amusement and helplessness.
After a brief hesitation, she held up a fish snack, her expression sincere: “Master, it tastes pretty good.”
Attempting to honor her master with pet food.
Yao Guanheng shook his head, politely declining her filial piety, but added: “The taste is indeed good.”
The little disciple instantly shot him a clear-eyed look of “How do you know if you haven’t tried it?”
Yao Guanheng chuckled lightly and explained warmly: “Because every Myriad Beasts Sect disciple has done this upon initiation.”
Li Yin had a realization: “I see.”
Caught, she simply chewed openly.
After sampling the pet snack, she had completed some “initiation rite” passed down among Myriad Beasts Sect disciples.
If this were the game, it would count as an Easter egg: “Taste the saltiness of pet snacks.”
Li Yin felt deep regret.
No achievement reward? Damn game panel.
Moments later, the Immortal Boat slowly docked at the sect gate, bringing the lesson to a close.
Yao Guanheng lowered his gaze, stroking the tired, curled-up orange kitten, and said softly: “The sect has many demon beasts, including those that have taken human form—not a few—and some disciples have formed Beast Taming Contracts with them…”
He seemed to mention it casually, but Li Yin’s mind stirred.
Human-form demon beasts? Didn’t that mean she could try harvesting demon cultivators too?
She added “demon cultivators” to her list of victims.
Soon, the Immortal Boat steadied, the massive vessel spanning several mountain peaks.
Time to disembark and return to the mountains. Voices on the boat grew noisy, mingling with birds’ cries and beasts’ roars—lively and bustling—as Elder Yaoguang’s lesson ended.
With her master’s permission and reminder, Li Yin packed her things and animals, eagerly slipping out of the meditation chamber onto the deck and leaning over the railing.
Taking in the sect’s expanse.
Vast mountains, clouds aglow, heavenly light cascading down.
Nearby and distant peaks lush with greenery of varying depths, buildings half-hidden in shadows.
The territory was immense, no figures visible at first.
Only the disciples on the Immortal Boat, dispersing alone or in groups, their lively voices quickly diluted by the vast heavens, earth, and mountains.
Li Yin leaned over, vaguely spotting traces of towns and villages amid the peaks, as well as vast fields. She looked up again, seeing where her fellow disciples were heading.
Her eyes widened in an instant.
For their fellow sect members’ modes of transport were wildly varied: some rode colorful birds, others haphazard flying magic artifacts.
A few birds spotted her and called out, seemingly greeting her.
The disciples on their backs glanced over curiously—why had the beasts taken notice of her?
Moments later, Elder Yaoguang returned after handling affairs and found his disciple at the railing.
An Azure Luan landed before her. Yao Guanheng paused.
Azure feathers shimmered radiantly on her face; she seemed to hold her breath for a long moment before slowly moving.
Seeing her hesitantly offer a fish snack, the man chuckled despite himself.
His spirit beast had a proud temperament and had likely sensed his aura on her to stop before her.
But it usually ignored offerings from others.
He was about to call out to it, not wanting it to slight this Jade Ecstasy Palace Young Lord.
Unexpectedly, the aloof Azure Luan’s eyes shifted, gently pecking the food from the girl’s hand and swallowing it elegantly.
Yao Guanheng’s expression paused again.
“Emerald Immortal.”
Only after a moment did he softly call its name.
Li Yin jumped in surprise, glancing sideways—it was her master. She relaxed.
“Master, is that your Azure Luan? It’s called Emerald Immortal? What a nice name…”
Then, she muttered softly, something like “Damn, why can’t I come up with one?”
Yao Guanheng gazed intently at the girl’s faintly flushed face. She looked a bit excited, very happy.
Wasn’t this Demon Domain Jade Ecstasy Palace Young Lord a bit too innocent…?
Moreover, the Azure Luan rarely warmed to outsiders, yet it now conveyed to him that it liked her.
Yao Guanheng said slowly: “Probably… because you’re naturally likable to spirit beasts.”
Such talent would be perfect if born in the Myriad Beasts Sect…
But she was a demonic cultivator.
If she were an ordinary disciple, he would report it to the sect for proper nurturing…
But she was a demonic cultivator.
What a pity—the Jade Ecstasy Palace Lord had discovered her first.
The thought flashed by; Yao Guanheng revealed no emotion and turned: “Let’s go, back to the mountain.”
The Azure Luan obeyed, its form expanding in the wind to accommodate master and disciple.
En route, Li Yin heard her master introduce that elders could select a mountain range as their cultivation abode. His was called Illuminating Water Peak.
When the Azure Luan arrived, it truly reflected water from the peak; overlooking from above revealed streams, waterfalls, and clear springs amid the woods, with several pristine lakes at the base.
Master probably has water spiritual roots, Li Yin guessed.
The Azure Luan brought master and disciple to the pavilion atop the mountain—the residence.
Yao Guanheng landed gracefully and turned to help down the young lord.
But the girl surprised him again, jumping straight off the Azure Luan’s back and happily stepping onto the ground with crisp footfalls.
He withdrew his hand imperceptibly, smiling as he introduced the small pavilion.
Shifting steps revealed new vistas: first, the meditation chamber.
“I usually seclude myself here for cultivation. If there’s something, just leave a note.”
Then, the hot spring.
“This is drawn from the back mountain. Though it can’t cleanse marrow or refine essence, it can warm and nourish your meridians.”
Finally, the disciple’s quarters.
“See if there’s anything else you need. There’s a market in the mountains; you can browse when free.”
He handed Li Yin a map.
She took it, first carefully inspecting the room. Nothing was missing.
Yao Guanheng said again, “Spiritual beasts can usually roam around in the courtyard. An array has been set up here, but be careful not to let them run outside. Cubs with too low a cultivation level might get eaten by wild beasts in the mountains.”
Li Yin noted it all down one by one.
After the master finished arranging the matters, he turned and headed to the quiet room to cultivate, leaving his disciple to explore outside.
She spent a day familiarizing herself with the area and checked the map again.
Without the game’s newbie guide, the player wasn’t sure what the first step should be.
But it didn’t keep her waiting long—the newbie guide arrived.
Senior Sister Xia sent a message, inviting her to head out and accept a sect mission together.
The player responded with immediate enthusiasm.
Senior Sister Xia led her to the sect’s affairs hall, where they accepted their first mission—
helping the mortals in the sect’s territory harvest crops. The accepting disciple was required to have practiced the Minor Wind Blade Technique or a similar spell.
“We cultivators are born from mortals. This is our foundation…”
Li Yin sat on Senior Sister Xia’s flying magic artifact, listening to her speak.
Xia Erruo winked at her. “You might be wondering why we don’t just use spells to ripen the crops and instead have to laboriously plant and harvest them…”
Li Yin nodded eagerly and asked why.
Xia Erruo grinned. “Because the laws of heaven are constant. We can’t use spells to force them to ripen, or another field will wither in its place. That’s karmic retribution—it damages our fortune. But we can use techniques to harvest them with less effort…”
Under Senior Sister Xia’s guidance, the player started the daily side quest, using spells to help the mortals in the sect’s territory solve all sorts of small problems.
From the villagers’ mouths, the player happily received honorifics like “Little Immortal Master” and “Little Immortal Fairy.”
While helping with the farming, the player also triggered a serendipitous encounter.
It was a tall, robust woman with bronze skin and brilliant golden vertical pupils. She was draped in white fur adorned with beast patterns that resembled those of a tiger.
The woman walked barefoot out of the woods and stepped onto the field ridge. She asked Li Yin, “Are you a new disciple?”
Stared at by the woman’s golden pupils, Li Yin inexplicably felt a pressure, but she didn’t avert her gaze in retreat.
Since she sensed no malice, Li Yin nodded.
The woman sized her up for a moment before saying, “Interesting. Here, a gift for you.”
The woman casually tossed over a spirit fruit. The player caught it in a fluster.
The woman chuckled lightly, and her figure dissipated like mist in the mountains.
Baffled, the player held the fruit. Not daring to eat something unknown at random, she went to ask her senior sister.
The senior sister was shocked. “The Mountain Lord.”
“Our sect is protected by the Four Images Bloodline. The Mountain Lord White Tiger is one of them.”
The player chose to share the spirit fruit with Senior Sister Xia. It tasted exquisite, melting in the mouth.
The player completed the daily side quest tasks. Besides the serendipitous encounter and the sect rewards, she also received gifts from the villagers—crops infused with faint spiritual energy.
The player processed some of the crops into rice cakes!
The player divided the harvest into two portions, setting one aside for her master.
Her master was in secluded cultivation, and the quiet room door was tightly shut.
So the player placed the harvest in front of her master’s door.
The player began to indulge in the daily side quests, happily dedicated to collecting all sorts of strange things—
wild fruits, wild tea, and wildflowers from the mountains…
…
Dawn’s light was faint.
The quiet room’s door suddenly opened.
The man paused mid-step and stopped.
Scattered small items littered the ground, blocking his path.
Wild fruits, wild tea, wildflowers…
It was as if a small animal had frequently visited, bringing treasures in its mouth as offerings.
He was slightly stunned. He bent down and picked up the scattered little treasures one by one.
His fingertips pinched the stem of a wildflower. Its fragrance was faint.
Although a small spell had been cast on the flower, the caster’s technique was unskilled. The flower was wilted and drooping.
There was more than one such flower.
Had she really… not realized he had prepared her to be his cauldron?
Yao Guanheng couldn’t help but think.